National League Playoff Preview: 2009 Playoffs

The Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies and defending World Series Champs Philadelphia Phillies all have one goal in mind......World Series.

We have teams that haven't won in years, some in decades and one that hasn't one it at all.

The National League will try to make it two in a row for the first time since 1981-82 when the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals did it.

The National League have won two of the last three (St. Louis Cardinals 2006 & Philadelphia Phillies 2009) and have won four this decade ( Arizona D'Backs 2001, Florida Marlins 2003, St. Louis Cardinals 2006 and Philadelphia Phillies in 2009).

I will breakdown some facts about the National League side of the Playoffs and will break down the teams and my predictions and who will represent the National League in the 2009 World Series.

Longest World Series Championship Drought:
Los Angeles Dodgers- 20 years; last 1988
St. Louis Cardinals-2 years; last 2006
Philadelphia Phillies- Last Year 2008
Colorado Rockies- Never (Became a Franchise in 1993).

Los Angeles Dodgers; 95-67 NL West Champions

The Los Angeles Dodgers come in on emotion from clinching the NL West by beating the Rockies 5-0.

The Dodgers opened up the season 13-0 at home and set a record by doing it, they were on fire until Manny was suspended 50 games for violating the drug policy in Major League Baseball.

The Dodgers former starting left fielder Juan Pierre would step up and help the Dodgers come out strong going into the All-Star Break.

The Dodgers hot streak would slow down but slowly the pitching would shine even with some injuries. When the Dodgers seem to be losing their grip on the NL West, Mr. Miracle would bring home for the Dodgers and would help be a big part down the stretch for a back-to-back Division Championships

The Dodgers go in with Home-Field advantage but some how are the underdogs going into their series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

What will help them win the National League and the World Series? Hitting

What will help them lose the National League or the World Series? Pitching

Player to watch in the Playoffs- Matt Kemp
Player to watch off the Bench- JIm Thome
Pitcher to watch in Playoffs- Clayton Kershaw
Trade that will help them in the Playoffs- JIm Thome

Will we see a Hollywood or should I say Mannywood ending to a up and down season that is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Philadelphia Phillies; 93-69 NL East Champions

A team that knows how to win, that is the Philadelphia Phillies. A team that has won their third consecutive NL East Title and are looking to be the first team since the mid 70's Reds to win back-to-back world titles.

Cole Hamles has cooled down since his MVP performance from last year and that is the reason for the Phillies picked up Cliff Lee, last years Cy Yong winner in the American League.

This team clinched during the end of the season but a lot faster then they did in 2008.

Player to watch in the Playoffs- Raul Ibanez
Player to watch off the Bench- Matt Stairs
Pitcher to watch in Playoffs- J.A. Happ
Trade that will help them in the Playoffs- Cliff Lee

The Phillies will face a red hot team in the Colorado Rockies and will have the pressure of the city to live up to the hype again and do what many think they can't outside of Philly and that's win another Championship.

Can the Phillies bring another title to a title hungry city that is Philly and be the first team since the mid 70's to win back-to-back Championships.

St. Louis Cardinals; 91-71 NL Central Champions

The strong pitching and constent hitting with the MVP of the league Albert Pujols destroying balls before they get out of the park. They won the least of the teams in the playoffs but are the favorites to get to the big dance.

The Cy Young candidates Wainwright and the other pitcher that was announced as the comeback player of the year Chris Carpenter have dominated hitters with the third starter in Pineiro being one of the best rotations in the League if not the best.

Just like the Dodgers and Phillies, the Cardinals added the big bat of Matt Holliday and he has come through picking up the slack when Albert if he had any.

Player to watch in the Playoffs- Matt Holliday
Player to watch off the Bench- Colby Rasmus
Pitcher to watch in Playoffs- Chris Carpenter
Trade that will help them in the Playoffs- Matt Holliday

The Cardinals will face the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs and are the favorites to go and repersent the National League in the World Series.

The Cardinals and some say the most loyal fan base in baseball in St. Louis are Title hungry since their last Championship in 2006 and want to be the first team to win two in the National League in this decade.

Colorado Rockies; 92-70 NL Wild Card Champions

The red hot Wild Card Champs come into the playoffs slighty cooled off after almost winning the West but losing the last two of the year. A team that fired their coach and were 10 games under .500 came back with the new coach and former Dodger coach Jim Tracy who will most likely be the coach next year to being the hottest teams after the All-Star Break.

The Rockies come into the playoffs for the second time in three years as the wild card and are on the verge and might have a slight ad I mean slight advantage in beating the defending Champs that are the Phillies of Philly and maybe getting back to the World Series and making some noise, something they didn't get to do against a red hot Red Soxs team back in 2007.

The Rockies made a move by trading away Holliday and bringing in free agent Jason Giambi amd he has made a sudden impact since coming in.

Player to watch in the Playoffs- Todd Helton
Player to watch off the Bench- Jason Giambi
Pitcher to watch in Playoffs- Aaron Cook
Trade that will help them in the Playoffs- Jose Contreras

The Rockies will face the Phillies in the NLDS and look to be the hottest team going in and could be taking out the defending Champions.

The Rockies are looking to bring the first World Series Championship to the Mile High City but will the Champs from last year be the ones to stop them.

Tony Larussa and Joe Torre are looking for some Championship gold, because if its one thing to win a Championship in both leagues and Joe Torre is trying to do what Tony has already done.

The Cardinals have great pitching and have a better rotation then the Dodgers do but the Dodger can light up the score board and the Cardinals will look to do the same in the National League Division Series as the team that wins this series will be on the road to repersenting the National League in the World Series.

The Cardinals might have a better rotation but the Dodgers have a better bullpen and in the past it is proven that the bullpen is big and the Dodgers even out in that category.

The Cardinals might have Albert and Matt but the Dodgers have Manny, Kemp, Andre and Furcal who are only a few that can light up the score board.

The Dodgers have a bench with some former All-Stars that have something to prove and can be key in important spots.

Even though the National League West is 4-6 against the Central in he past, this Dodger team has been on a mission every since losing last year and looks to rip apart anyone that comes in there way.

My Prediction: Dodgers in 5

I see both teams winning there games at home and the Dodgers have one important thing that St. Louis doesn't, Home Field Adv.

The Phillies are thinking one thing facing familar foe in the Rockies in the NLDS...Revenge. The fans of Philly remember the Rockies beat them in 2007 and the Rockies one two in Philly and that is something Lee and Hamles are looking ot change this time around.

These two have both questions at pitching but have good hitting to make for it with a bullpen that can get them out of some sticky situations.

The last two teams to repersent the National League are goign to face off in a much anticapted match-up, with one getting to the National League Championship Series.

The National League West are 2-7 against the East and that is something the Rockies are looking to add on to that beat the defending Champions.

The bench for Rockies might be even with the Phillies, but the Phillies have showed last year that the bench can get it done.

Jim Tracy last chance at being a playof coach could be this and he might want to make the most of it this year and see how high he can bring the Mile High team and his city that sits on his shoulders in the playoffs.

My Prediction: Phillies in 4

I think the Phillies will win this in Game three and it will suck out the air of the Rockies in Game 5 and we will see a much anticapted rematch from last years NLCS.

NLCS: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadephia Phillies

I know all the Dodger fans see the picture of Matt Stairs homering away our chance at a World Series Championship, well this will be the last time that you will see this image and you will see the Dodgers going ot be on their way to the World Series in 2009.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Phillies will have the first NLCS rematch since 2005-06 with the Cardinals and Astros.

The Dodgers did lose their pitching and Philly did add but the Dodgers added in the bullpen and on the bench where the Phillies had us.

The Dodgers will be in the NLCS with the defending Champs with one thing on their mind....Revenge.

The Dodgers have better hitting, bullpen and bench then the Phillies but the Phillies have one thing that the Dodgers couldn't get past last year and that is pitching.

The Phillies will look to repeat and have revenge all in one year if they can get past a team that wiped the floor with them the Rockies and repeat by beating the Dodgers in the NLCS and repating as Champs for the first time since 70's.

My Prediction: Dodgers in 6

The Dodgers will get revenge on Philly and make there way to the Fall Classic and face a familar fow in that series.

World Series 09: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. ?

For those who thought I was going to say Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees, I'm sorry to say that will not be the case.

The World Series has witnessed a World Series Bay Style and a Subway Series, but this will be the first Freeway Frenzy when the Los Angeles Dodgers will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Dodgers and Angels match-up perfectly and they will put on one of the best World Series since New York and Arizona or Braves and Twins.

Their could be a Hollywood ending for both teams but one would love to have a Mannywood ending and that could give the edge to that player in the biggest series in baseball.

The Angels have a great pitching staff anf good hitting but the Dodgers have good hitting, a good bench and great bullpen.

We will see everything from brothers possibly duking it out (Jerad and Jeff Weaver), a coach looking to win a title after leaving New York, another coach going against his former team, from sluggers in Manny and Vlad and so much more with two teams and a city that is title hungry.

The two players pictured are the X-Factors for their team going in with one looking for another title and be a Champion in both leagues and one looking for his first title.

My Prediction: Dodgers in 6

The Dodgers are on the verge of recreating the magic from 20 years ago and winning their 7th title in history and prove that a good team and franchise is build up from their farm system with guys like Loney, Kemp, Either, Martin and Kershaw.